Researchers at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute
have made progress in understanding how a specific type of immune cell is
involved in the development of lesions associated with Langerhans Cell
Histiocytosis (LCH) lesions.

This research has been recently recognised and published in international
medical journal, Clinical Immunology. It is hoped that these findings
will lead to a better way to treat patients with LCH

LCH is a rare type of cancer, mostly found in children. It
results in lesions forming in any organ, which can lead to organ dysfunction
and permanent damage. The lesions, which
are often found in the bone and skin, contain mutated immune cells called ‘LCH
cells’ along with a range of other immune cells, which create an inflammatory
environment and tissue damage.

Professor George Kannourakis, Honorary Director at FECRI, and
an Oncologist and Haematologist with years of experience in treating and
monitoring patients with LCH, has worked with researchers and clinicians around
the world on this condition. The immunology-based research led by Professor
Kannourakis at the Ballarat based Institute, has advanced the understanding of
LCH and created promising leads on how we can target the immune system to
combat this.

This published research undertaken by Dr Jenee Mitchell, has
highlighted a new mechanism of how a specific immune cell, called Tregs, may be
involved in the development and progression of lesions in the condition. It is
hoped that these findings will lead to better way to treat patients with LCH,
and maybe useful to treat other cancers and inflammatory conditions that result
in tissue damage.

Professor Kannourakis said that “ This research has
identified immune cells ‘Treg lymphocytes’ within LCH lesions as the producers
of a potent inflammatory response, called TGFbeta, which is thought to
contribute to the intense tissue damage seen in this disorder, and targeting
this offers potential options for treatment “.

Dr Jenee Mitchell is from Western Victoria and completed her
PhD studies in 2019 focusing on LCH. She has recently been appointed as a
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute to continue her work on the
condition. Dr Mitchell is now an expert in this niche ﬁeld, and it is wonderful
to retain her talent in regional Victoria.

“This publication is a great example of the
ground-breaking work that the team here at the Institute is doing into the
immunology of cancer. Dr Mitchell is a great example of a young person and
women pursuing an international career from a regional base. Our program is building great momentum and
will continue to produce outcomes.” stated Professor Kannourakis.

Other researchers, recognised in this publication are
Professor Stuart Berzins, Jason Kelly, and FECRI collaborations with Professor
Jan-Inge Henter from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Dr Daniel Pellicci,
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.